Charnwood Borough Council - Leading in Leicestershire

A recycling collector employed by Onyx Municipal on the Charnwood Refuse and Recycling Contract has been seriously injured.
The accident happened when the man tried to remove textiles wrapped in a carrier bag from a green recycling box. The box contained some razor sharp broken sheet glass which sliced through his protective glove and into his hand. He was rushed to Leicester Royal, where he was operated on and will be off work for four weeks.

The Council would like to remind residents that…
• We do not collect sheet glass for recycling. It is chemically quite different to container glass and of course is dangerous to handle. It should be carefully taken to the household waste sites for disposal at the direction of the site contractor.
• We do collect glass bottles and jars and these should be placed loose, without tops, in the box. They can then be loaded without touching them.
• The only items that should be presented in a carrier bag placed on top of the box are "textiles" defined as clean, dry, wearable clothing, household linen (not quilts or pillows), paired shoes, handbags and soft toys.
• Carrier bags of textiles put out for collection in this way should be placed on top of the box and not inside it.
A Council spokesman said, “We do greatly appreciate the massive support given by Charnwood people to the Together Recycling Service but please spare a thought for the crews that collect this material at high speed day in and day out and stick to the information on the box, on the sacks and on the leaflets. If residents need more information on this or any other aspect of Together, call the Charnwood Contact Centre on 01509 634 563 or check out our website www.charnwood.gov.uk “.